Monday, 30 January 2017

Analysis of magazine covers

Mast head

The mast head on this cover is positioned at the top of the page in the centre. This makes it easier to be seen on shop shelves as the mast head can be located when it is behind other magazines where only the top of the cover is showing. The bold white font positioned in front of the pink background stands out to potential readers and gives the title of the magazine an image that lingers in the readers’ head.
Colour Palette
The contrast between the dark colours Travis Scott is presented with (dark navy blue, brown, black, dark green) and the pale pink background is very appealing to the eye as the colours complement each other well. The boldness of Travis Scott compared to the weak background gives him more emphasis on the page and draws attention to him. This was done by the editors of the magazine in order to try and push the focus of potential readers on to the most important part of the magazine. The white font is used due to the fact that is easily readable on the colour of the backgrounds it is placed on.
Text
The main cover line “Travis Scott” is a piece of text that stands out the effectively on the page, partly due to how it is the biggest text on the page bar the mast head and how the white fonts contrast with the navy dark blue background make the words stick out on the cover. Another reason it stands out is the placement of it on the page. It is positioned just above Travis Scott’s crotch area which is being pointed to through the direction of his arms. The makers of the magazine were maybe trying to use the female gaze to gain attention for this edition. The secondary cover line is placed just under the main cover line in smaller font this is done because the aim is to draw people in with the name of the artist as that is what people care about then once they are engaged they will most probably read the rest of what on the cover. The hefty price of the magazine $10 is printed in a very small font so not much attention is drawn to it.
Image
Travis Scott is styled in a way that will appeal to Hip-Hop fans, who are the target audience for this edition of the Paper magazine. He has expensive flashy jewellery on (diamond chain, diamond grillz), which is part of the rap culture. He also has a Bape bandana on his head which is a common brand in the rap industry. His physique is on show which may have been done to draw female readers in. He also has his famously symbolic braids on show which will appeal to his fans who may then be tempted to buy the magazine.
Layering and Layout
This is a very simple cover, layering-wise. There are only 4 layers from what I can identify; the text, the mast head, the image of Travis Scott and the pink background. There is also a lack of text on the page and only one image. This simple layout and layering can be effective as many people prefer less complex covers, me for example.
Colour Palette
The blend of purple and green in the background gives a unique image to the magazine. The separate colours can be seen reflecting off of Kendrick Lamar’s face which makes him fit into the cover nicely. The background and the image of the artist feel as though they are together and part of the same image due to the arrangement of the colours. The text is white due to the fact it can be easily read when it is placed on the backgrounds it is placed on.
Mast head
The mast head is positioned non-centrally behind Kendrick Lamar and there are two reasons for this. One being that XXL is a well-known magazine brand and people instantly recognize the red box with the white lettering inside. The other reason is that Kendrick Lamar being in the magazine will draw a large number of readers in so it is vital as much attention and focus possible is pointed towards him, this makes him effectively more important than the masthead.
Text
The primary cover line “Kendrick Lamar” is placed centrally and in bold text. This is done to try and engage readers and make them notice the most important text on the cover before anything else. The secondary cover line is then placed underneath the primary cover line in slightly smaller, less bold font. The thinking for this being that hopefully it is the second bit of text people notice as it is describing the main article. It is important potential readers notice this description as it is what will tempt people into buying the magazine. The rest of the text is much smaller and weaker so that it doesn’t draw attention away from the main image and cover lines, however it is placed on the cover so that people can see what else is in the issue if they are interested.
Image
This image of Kendrick Lamar is a simple close up shot of a fairly normal facial expression. The styling of Kendrick is also very simple and humble, no flashy jewellery or overly expensive brands, just a plain white T-shirt and a navy blue cap. This overall simplicity and humbleness when portraying him is effective however, as he has never been known for his choice of fashion or styling. He is a humble character and this trait is shown well through the image of him on this cover.
 Layering and layout
The layering on this cover is slightly more complex than the last one however it is still fairly simple. There are 6 layers from what I can identify; the main image, the small text, the cover lines, the barcode, the mast head and the background. The layout of the cover is all based around making Kendrick Lamar and the cover lines the centre of attention and this is done effectively. His face takes up most of the page with everything being placed around or behind it. This ensures people notice that the magazine features a global superstar and so are tempted to read. The barcode is placed on the cover noticeably so that it can be easily scanned and purchased.
Colour Palette
The colour arrangement of the background is very interesting and eye catching. The combination of red and blue flowing together in an almost liquefied fashion makes the background illusive and unique. The importance of the mast head is shown through the bright yellow font it is presented with as it makes it stand out on the page. The primary cover line is coloured with white font as it contrasts with the background so also stands out on the page. Kim Kardashian’s attractive olive skin tone is highlighted through extra lighting being placed on it. This is done as it is one of her best characteristics physically so is highlighted to draw potential readers in.
Mast head
The mast head is positioned centrally and in a very bold bright font. This ensures potential readers notice the magazine on shop shelves and also remember the name of the magazine as it stands out. It is however placed behind Kim Kardashian, this is done to divert attention to her as she is the main aspect of the cover and is what is being used to draw people in to buy the magazine. 
Text
The main cover line is presented in a bold large font that stands out on the cover. Focus is aimed on to the cover line “Kim” because it is the main article within the magazine so needs to be noticed by potential readers. The secondary cover line “yeezy exclusive” is shown in a yellow font so that it also stands out however it is in a smaller font that is also weaker than the main cover line. This is done so that it is hopefully the second bit of text people notice on the cover as it is the second most important article in the magazine. The main cover line is also positioned higher and to the left of the secondary cover line. This is effective in managing what people read on the cover as we tend to read left to right top to bottom. The rest of the text is small so that it doesn’t draw attention away from the more important aspects of the cover however it is there so readers can see what else is in the magazine if they are interested.
Image
Kim Kardashian is styled and positioned in a very seductive manner. She has clothes on that show a lot of cleavage and that is very tight to her body which emphasises her curves. She is also striking a very seductive facial expression and has her hands pinned back to the wall. All of these factors appeal to the male gaze which draws male readers in and tempts them to buy the magazine. Female readers may also be drawn into the magazine as Kim Kardashian looks very attractive and other women may aspire to look like her.
Layering and layout
This magazine is complex layering-wise. It has around 10 layers from what I can identify. The magazine is laid out so that Kim Kardashian is the centre of attention as she is what is being used to draw readers in. The text and cover lines are positioned around her to the sides of the page where as she is placed in the centre. There is also extra lighting on her face and cleavage area leaving the rest of her body in the shadows. This is done to appeal to the male gaze and draw male readers in as the most attractive parts of her body are highlighted and focussed on. 

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